Sweet Promise (27 page)

"Are you ready, Mrs. Drummond?"

Smiling up at the young man beside her, Claire nodded and placed her hand on his sleeve, and with four-week-old Daniel Ethan Drummond tucked securely in the crook of her other arm, she allowed him to lead her up the aisle.

When Claire was seated in the first pew she looked across the aisle at Maggie Fleming and smiled. As Sean and his father entered the chapel through the side door, Claire's eyes were drawn to him, and her heart filled with thankfulness that this man, whom she and Matt loved so dearly, had chosen her daughter.

As though sensing her gaze on him, Sean's eyes met Claire's, and held, and after a moment of silent communication, he smiled and lowered one eyelid in a lazy wink. Then the stirring strains of the "Wedding March" rose from the organ, and his gaze sought the ivory clad figure at the back of the church. As Matt led Joanna toward the altar Sean had eyes only for her.

Tears pooled in Claire's eyes as she saw the look of love that passed between Sean and her lovely, radiant daughter. With a heart overflowing with happiness and a throat so tight it ached, she watched Matt place Joanna's hand in Sean's.

A short while later the minister asked who gave the bride in marriage, and at Matt's strong, "Her mother and I," Claire's tears spilled over.

She was crying unashamedly when Matt joined her on the bench. As Joanna and Sean repeated the solemn vows Matt picked up Claire's hand and squeezed it, and their eyes met in a long, poignant look, each remembering that day four years ago when they had spoken the same words.

The minister pronounced them man and wife, and Sean lifted Joanna's veil and drew her into his arms. The kiss was so loving and tender that Claire's tears began to flow again. One plopped on the baby's cheek and he awoke with a start and immediately began to wail his displeasure. Everyone laughed, including Joanna and Sean when they broke apart.

The recessional began and the swell of the organ music covered the baby's crying as the newlyweds started their walk down the aisle. When they drew even with the first pew, Joanna stopped and kissed her squalling, red-faced baby brother on the forehead, before doing the same to her mother and Matt.

Then, her eyes shining with love, she turned to Sean and held out her hand.